From Judy's Desk

Meet the new chairman of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, the largest bourbon bar in the world, and more.

By Judy Clabes

Kevin Canafax is a well-known presence in Northern Kentucky. As one of the region’s most prominent civic leaders, he serves on the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport Board, the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky chamber boards, on the Cincinnati Business Committee—and has been involved in so many other community-good organizations over the years that it would be impossible to name them all.

Now, he’s about to be a well-known presence statewide as well.

Kevin has been named chairman of the board of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, succeeding Will James Jr., president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Kentucky. He assumed the position Sept. 30.

Kevin is vice president of Fidelity Investments’ Midwest region and is based at its 4,000-person processing headquarters in Covington. Formerly he was on the staff of the Northern Kentucky Chamber.

He has a bachelor’s degree from Southern Ohio College and a master’s from Xavier. He is also a graduate of both Leadership Cincinnati and Leadership Kentucky and serves on the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education.

Chuck Session of Duke Energy became a newly elected state chamber board member.

Other Northern Kentuckians serving on the state chamber board are Brent Cooper of C-Forward, Steven Dasch of Citi, Eric Haas of National Band & Tag, Candace McGraw of CVG, and Trey Grayson (ex-officio) of the Northern Kentucky Chamber.

What’s next?

Bob Griffin, former president of Griffin Industries, and his family—including two sons, Michael and Jordan—are responsible for that huge building that has been going up on Dolwick Drive in Erlanger, within sight of Interstate 75.

The “Griffin Elite Sports and Wellness” sign has adorned it for some time—and now, thanks to private tours of the facility—folks are beginning to get an idea of what’s up.

It’s a new concept in athletic training and fitness that provides skills, strength and agility training for athletes of all ages—and conditioning and injury recovery programs.

The facility was built by Ralph Dusing’s Bluegrass Commercial Group.

Greg Van Hoene, general manager, says anyone using the equipment will have to have “proper evaluation and direction.”

There are basketball/volleyball courts, an indoor turf field, a mezzanine large enough for meetings and wellness-related speaking engagements, three hardwood courts for basketball and volleyball, and a large artificial turf field with four 40-yard running lanes, and a 5,000-square-foot training room with the latest strength and conditioning equipment. Then there’s the yoga studio, offices for a licensed chiropractor, and a cryotherapy treatment facility.

An amazing pursuit of a “what’s next” in life for Bob Griffin—and a terrific opportunity for Northern Kentuckians.

If all that has exhausted you, then you may want to know that. . .

Bring it home

Northern Kentucky is now home to the largest bourbon bar in the world, thanks to the determination of Peter and Kim Newberry.

The record was formerly held by Tokyo—a fact that Peter Newberry just couldn’t countenance. It was only right, he reasoned, that the largest bourbon bar anywhere should be—well, in the state that makes the stuff.

The Newberry’s Prohibition Bourbon Bar, tucked behind their coffee establishment at Sixth and Washington in Newport, is home to more than 800 brands of bourbon and rye, plus a goodly selection of scotch (60 kinds) and Japanese whiskey (30 or more). And, in deference to the “other” adult beverage, more than 60 different wines are served by the glass.